Essilor and volunteers provide bumper Crisis Service

Essilor’s generous provision of lenses and glazing brought a smile to the faces of a stream of homeless people in London this week. The collection day for visitors to the Crisis at Christmas clinic proved to be a rewarding afternoon for Vision Care for Homeless People volunteers.

Richard Trusler, Essilor London Manager, confirmed that the company has glazed 264 pairs of Specsavers frames this year for the seasonal appeal –

“This is our eighth year of supporting the charity and each year the number grows. The most extreme prescriptions have been +10.00D and -7.00D, with 80% single vision and 20% bifocals. We are very happy to be involved with this as we know we are making glasses for people in need, and they will make life a lot better for them.”

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, called in to see the dispensing taking place and was impressed with the commitment of volunteers and the donations from the optical sector –

“This is an impressive service that makes a real difference to homeless people who too often struggle to access the basic services that we take for granted. Fixing someone’s sight can be a vital step out of homelessness. Helping someone to read again could, for example, lead to work and a better life,” he said.

Volunteers at the dispensing clinic included Jane Perkins who travels from Norwich once a month to work in the regular Whitechapel clinic –

“I am semi-retired and want to do something useful. I enjoy myself and get a lot from volunteering.”
Also semi-retired is volunteer CLO, Stephen Butler, from Balham –

“I have time to give and this is good fun. There are no targets, we look after our guests and they really appreciate what we do for them. You meet some very interesting people,” he said.

To find out more about volunteering at the VCHP clinics in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Brighton visit: